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Advent 2025: Be Amazed! First Mennonite Church Sugarcreek, Ohio December 14, 2025 Worship: 9:30 am Coffee & Fellowship Time: 10:30 am We believe in Jesus and take his life, teachings, death and resurrection as the model for how we live and the message we proclaim. ***************************************­ We seek to be a caring and discerning community, the gathered body of Christ, that welcomes all to join in worship, study, and service. ****************************************** We embody God’s transforming and redeeming Spirit in the world through our prophetic witness and action. THE CHURCH WORSHIPS TOGETHER Advent Three: Joy in the Desert ~Gathering~ Preludes: “I Wonder as I Wander” – arr. Jay Rouse “Twas in the Moon of Wintertime” – arr. Mark Hayes Welcome& Announcements Opening Hymn: VT 237 Now the Heavens v3 Advent Scripture: Habakkuk 1:5 “Look at the nations and see! Be astonished! Be astounded! For work is being done in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” Focus Statement: Imagine wandering thirsty through a desert wasteland and happening upon a spring of clear, cold water. On this third Sunday of Advent, you are invited to lay down your cares; find rest, comfort and joy in God’s amazing provision, in the places where you least expect it. Time of Meditation : “ Silent Night” – arr. Rachel Trelstad Porte Call to Worship: Leader: Come, all who hunger and thirst for more—God calls us to the feast! People: We are weary exiles, longing for home, caught in a world that drains our hope. Leader: “Listen, so that you may live! My covenant is everlasting, my promise sure.” People: The invitation is for all people, from the farthest reaches on the earth. Leader: The word of the Lord does not return empty—it brings forth life! People: The mountains and the hills will burst into song, the trees of the field will clap their hands! All: You are the source of true joy, O God. You expand our vision, lifting our eyes beyond the moment, beyond despair, into amazement. We stand before you, ready to enter your story and be amazed. Opening Prayer Advent Candlelighting Litany (Mike Keim, candlelighter) Leader: We have been wandering in the dark, cold desert of grief and despair, and we feel heavy, dry and lifeless. People: Come, Joy of the world. Come amaze us. All: May your joy water our thirsty souls, that we may become your fountains of joy, freely sharing your joy with the world. Hymn: VT 218 Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus ~Praying & Praising~ Old Testament Scripture : Psalm 42 Prayers of the People Christmas Carol: VT 248 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear ~Hearing God’s Word~ Scripture: Isaiah 55:1, 6, 9-12 Be Amazed Story: “Joy in the Chaos” -read by Nancy Yoder Message: “Come to the Lord. Receive his joy, comfort, and peace.” ~Responding~ Hymn of Response: VT 209 We Dream of a Turning (the offering will be brought forth at this time) Offering Prayer: Leader: God, we are thirsty and you call us to your waters. But sometimes we try to slake our thirst from other sources. People: Forgive us when we turn away from the living water that you offer. Leader: God, we are hungry and you offer us bread without cost. But sometimes we pay too much for food that does not nourish. People: Forgive us when we do not accept your gracious provision. Leader: Forgive us, God, for the many ways we fail to trust you: People: when we spend our money for that which is not bread and our labor for that which does not satisfy. Leader: God, we seek you; we call upon you. ALL: Have mercy on us, for we know that you abundantly Pardon. Accept our offerings and use them for good. Bless them and endow us with your mercy, your grace, and your desire to bring peace and joy to our world. Amen. ~Sending~ Benediction Sending Hymn: VT 847 You Shall Go Out with Joy Sending Words: Habakkuk 3: 17-19 Postlude : “Cold December Flies Away” – Spanish carol arr. by Anna Laura Page WORSHIP 9:30-10:30 Minister: Mike Gehman Worship Leader: Bruce Stauffer Pianist: Suzanne Stauffer Song Leader: April Shupe Usher: Herb Torgler Please note that the music for our Advent services is carefully chosen to represent the meditative side of Advent as reflected in the night sky on the altar. Different arrangements of "Silent Night" will be used each Sunday during the Time of Meditation to emphasize the theme. Cover Art: Visio Divina—The Clapping Trees ARTIST: Len Rempel (Visio Divina Collection, 2023) Advent 2025: This year, our theme is, “Be Amazed!” Each week, we’ll be invited to notice the surprising and powerful ways in which God shows up—even when we least expect it. We invite you to immerse yourself in the visuals and explore the theme, “Be Amazed!” in several ways: *One way is through the picture you will see each week on the big screen as you walk into the sanctuary. Even before the service begins, you can look at the picture and along with it, the introductory scripture which you can read in the Bibles located in the pews, or bring your own Bible. This way you can contemplate the story of the scripture passage and prepare for the worship to follow. *Another way we invite you to explore the theme is through the symbol of a star. The stars remind us of God’s mysterious and guiding presence—distant yet near, powerful yet gentle. Like the blazing stars in the sky, God’s glory is sometimes hidden from view by our distractions, expectations or the “clouds” of daily life. Yet, the light of God is always shining—waiting for us to notice. Just as the Magi followed the star to find Christ, we too are invited to look up, notice, and be amazed by God’s presence. Watch as this display becomes brighter each week to reflect the growing light and clarity of God’s revelation, culminating in the full radiance of Christ’s birth at Christmas. We also invite you to ponder God’s amazing stories represented by the symbols placed on the altar each Sunday. As we wait for the fullness of Christmas, may this light call us to look up, look around, and be amazed at the God who comes close—bringing hope, peace, joy, and love, even in the places you least expect it. May you find wonder in the work God is doing in your life this Christmas! FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER Mission Project for December: White Gift Offering During the four Sundays of Advent, we will be collecting to replenish the Deacon’s Fund, which is money available to members of our church in need. Look for the specially designated green sleigh as you enter the sanctuary. You can give cash or make a check out to FMC designated White Gift. Let’s fill the sleigh to help others on their way! Special Thanksgiving / Christmas Project: Garaway Pirate Power Packs The Garaway Pirate Power Pack Program, sponsored by the Sugarcreek United Church of Christ, meets monthly to pack over 350 bags full of food for local students. We will be collecting the following items over the next several weeks to help provide food for this program: Ramen noodles cans of corn cans of green beans cans of ravioli cans of tomato soup cans of pork and beans cans of chicken noodle soup THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS April Shupe: Bruce and Sue are visiting Megan and Brent this Sunday; Bruce is doing better and will be here next Sunday. Mennonite Mission Network: Praise God that Caleb Schrock-Hurst, who serves jointly with Mennonite Mission Network and Virginia Mennonite Missions, has successfully finished his cancer treatments and is cancer free. Now, he and his wife, Stephanie, are moving forward with their plans to respond to an invitation to go to Mennonite Christian Hospital in Taiwan. Pray for physical and spiritual health as they resume preparations that were put on hold for the past year. THIS WEEK Dec. 21 st Happy Anniversary, Wayne & Dorothy Schrock NEXT WEEK Guest Minister: Ernie Hershberger Worship Leader: Tabatha Murphy Head Usher: Herb Torgler UPCOMING EVENTS Dec. 24 th Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 6pm LAST WEEK Attendance: 18 Offering: $2045 Change for a dollar: $34.35 Garaway Power Pack: $40 CHURCH LEADERSHIP Pastor’s Hours: Wednesday 9:30 am-2:30 pm Church Secretary: Tabatha Murphy Church Phone: 1-330-852-2822 Email: office@firstmennonitesugarcreek.com Website: http//fmcsugarcreekoh.org Address: 113 W. Main St. P.O. Box 250 Sugarcreek, OH 44681 CONGREGATIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM: Chairperson: Mike Keim Office Contact: Linda Yoder Mission Contact: Reno Stevanus Trustees Contact: Dan Hostetler Secretary Contact: Amy Stauffer-McNutt

Advent 2025: Be Amazed! First Mennonite Church Sugarcreek, Ohio December 7, 2025 Worship: 9:30 am Coffee & Fellowship Time: 10:30 am We believe in Jesus and take his life, teachings, death and resurrection as the model for how we live and the message we proclaim. ***************************************­ We seek to be a caring and discerning community, the gathered body of Christ, that welcomes all to join in worship, study, and service. ****************************************** We embody God’s transforming and redeeming Spirit in the world through our prophetic witness and action. __________ THE CHURCH WORSHIPS TOGETHER __________ Advent Two: Peace in the Valley of Bones ~Gathering~ Preludes: “O Little Town of Bethlehem” -arr. Mark Hayes For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond’ring love. O morning stars together proclaim the holy birth! And praises sing to God the king, and peace to all the earth! Welcome& Announcements Opening Hymn: VT 237 Now the Heavens (listen to verse 1, sing verse 2) Advent Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-5 “Look at the nations and see! Be astonished! Be astounded! For work is being done in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” Focus Statement: Imagine a valley full of dry bones, with not a breath of wind. Then a noise, a rattling sound as the bones come together, bone to bone, tendon to tendon. In this miraculous vision given to the prophet Ezekiel, God breathes life into the bones so that they may dance again. Come, Holy Spirit! We pray on this second Sunday of Advent for peace as a renewal of body, mind, and spirit. Time of Meditation : “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” -performed by The Piano Guys Call to Worship: Leader: God in our desert, you are our peace to all places. People: Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely. Leader: Thus says the LORD GOD: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” People: Can these dry bones live? Leader: The wind of God moves among these dry bones. Stand and live! People: We are the people of God, a vast multitude, filled with God’s Spirit. Leader: “I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live. I will place you on your own soil; then you shall Know that I, the LORD, have spoken and will act,” says the LORD. All: You are the only source of true life, O God. You breathe new life into our dry bones and fill us with your peace. We stand before you, ready to enter your story and be amazed. Opening Prayer Advent Candlelighting Litany (Mike Keim, candlelighter) Leader: We have been wandering in the dark, our spirits dry and cracked from conflict, aching for peace to pour into the crevices to revive us. People: Come, Peace of the world. Come amaze us. All: May Your peace fill the cracks in our dry, brittle bones. Bind us together, strengthen and unite us, that we might dance! Hymn: HWB 174 Bless’d Be the God of Israel ~Praying & Praising~ Old Testament Scripture : Psalm 130:1-8 (NIV) Prayers of the People Christmas Carol: HWB 191 O Little Town of Bethlehem -accompanied by Kaleb Brasee ~Hearing God’s Word~ Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14 Be Amazed Story: “Peace in the Valley of Bones” -read by Nancy Yoder Message: “ Breathe on us Spirit of God; restore life, peace, and hope!” ~Responding~ Hymn of Response: HWB 26 Holy Spirit, Come With Power -performed by Berlin Mennonite Church (the offering will be brought forth at this time) Offering Prayer ~Sending~ Benediction Sending Hymn: HWB 356 Breathe on Me, Breath of God -accompanied by by Sangah Noona Sending Words: Habakkuk 3: 17-19 Postlude : Come, Gentle Peace -music by Lloyd Larsen, Words by Joseph Martin and Jonathan Martin Come gentle peace, sing to our pain, Comfort the world, let the healing begin. Bring us your goodness, show us your dream, Teach all creation your beautiful theme. WORSHIP 9:30-10:30 Minister: Mike Gehman Worship Leader Helene Torgler Song Leader: April Shupe Usher: Herb Torgler Cover Art: Can These Bones Live? by Josh Tiessen, is a painting representing the dry bones story in Ezekiel. He writes: I approached my painting as a modern interpretation, seeing the Monarch Butterfly as symbolic of breathing new life into lifeless human bones. Advent 2025: This year, our theme is, “Be Amazed!” Each week, we’ll be invited to notice the surprising and powerful ways in which God shows up—even when we least expect it. We invite you to immerse yourself in the visuals and explore the theme, “Be Amazed!” in several ways: *One way is through the picture you will see each week on the big screen as you walk into the sanctuary. Even before the service begins, you can look at the picture and along with it, the introductory scripture which you can read in the Bibles located in the pews, or bring your own Bible. This way you can contemplate the story of the scripture passage and prepare for the worship to follow. *Another way we invite you to explore the theme is through the symbol of a star. The stars remind us of God’s mysterious and guiding presence—distant yet near, powerful yet gentle. Like the blazing stars in the sky, God’s glory is sometimes hidden from view by our distractions, expectations or the “clouds” of daily life. Yet, the light of God is always shining—waiting for us to notice. Just as the Magi followed the star to find Christ, we too are invited to look up, notice, and be amazed by God’s presence. Watch as this display becomes brighter each week to reflect the growing light and clarity of God’s revelation, culminating in the full radiance of Christ’s birth at Christmas. We also invite you to ponder God’s amazing stories represented by the symbols placed on the altar each Sunday. As we wait for the fullness of Christmas, may this light call us to look up, look around, and be amazed at the God who comes close—bringing hope, peace, joy, and love, even in the places you least expect it. May you find wonder in the work God is doing in your life this Christmas! FMC LIVES IN DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER________ Mission Project for December: White Gift Offering During the four Sundays of Advent, we will be collecting to replenish the Deacon’s Fund, which is money available to members of our church in need. Look for the specially designated green sleigh as you enter the sanctuary. You can give cash or make a check out to FMC designated White Gift. Let’s fill the sleigh to help others on their way! Special Thanksgiving / Christmas Project: Garaway Pirate Power Packs The Garaway Pirate Power Pack Program, sponsored by the Sugarcreek United Church of Christ, meets monthly to pack over 350 bags full of food for local students. We will be collecting the following items over the next several weeks to help provide food for this program: Ramen noodles cans of corn cans of green beans cans of ravioli cans of tomato soup cans of pork and beans cans of chicken noodle soup Lessons and Carols Service at St. Joseph Catholic Church is this evening at 6:00 p.m. (prelude beginning at 5:30). The public is invited to join in this special community Advent service. The service will include choirs from the surrounding area, a brass ensemble, hand-bell choir, the singing of carols, and readings from Sacred Scripture. THE CHURCH GIVES THANKS ____________________ Brad Shupe: Dad is home and is doing well after hip replacement. THE CHURCH PRAYS FOR ________________________ April Shupe: Sue had to take Bruce to the ER this morning, prayers for healing. Mike Gehman: Friend who has brain cancer needs prayers. Also, Barb Debor, the Lutheran minister, is on life support. THIS WEEK _______________________________________ Dec. 7th Lessons & Carols at St. Joseph in Dover, 5:30 pm Dec. 11 th Happy Birthday, Sue Stauffer NEXT WEEK ________________________________ Minister: Mike Gehman Worship Leader: Bruce Stauffer Head Usher: Herb Torgler LAST WEEK __ _______________ _______ __ Attendance: 16 Offering: $951 Change for a dollar: $17 Food Bank: $50 White Gift: $10 CHURCH LEADERSHIP Pastor’s Hours: Wednesday 9:30 am-2:30 pm Church Secretary: Tabatha Murphy Church Phone: 1-330-852-2822 Email: office@firstmennonitesugarcreek.com Website: http//fmcsugarcreekoh.org Address: 113 W. Main St. P.O. Box 250 Sugarcreek, OH 44681 CONGREGATIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM: Chairperson: Mike Keim: 1-330-407-9291 Office Contact: Linda Yoder: 1-330-204-1668 Mission Contact: Reno Stevanus: 1-330-243-0263 Trustees Contact: Dan Hostetler: 1-330-852-2151 Secretary Contact: Amy Stauffer-McNutt: 1-330-243-4485